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Forum Index : Solar : How much do panels really cost?
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KarlJ Guru  Joined: 19/05/2008 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1178 |
I made an enquiry to ERA regarding their panel cost per container (about 288 panels and $90K) ERA panels cost 1.88USD / watt FOB china making a 175W panel worth a staggering $360 AUD + $10 in shipping. starting to make $2500 for 1.5KW systems look about right as far as I can tell call it $400x9 (panels) +$1600 (inverter)+ installation 1/2 day $400 (misc cable, racking etc) $1000= $6600 less govt rebate in vic of $4500 = $2100 meaning that someone is still making money even at $2500. NOW -THAT IS food for thought! Lash out $90K, sell the panels on ebay for $700 each, double my money and become a green energy baron..... Luck favours the well prepared |
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Gizmo Admin Group  Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5078 |
As fellow forum members we would expect a discount....  The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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| KarlJ Guru Joined: 19/05/2008 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1178 |
of course, you'd just need to buy about 10 panels each, there would have to be 30 guys here in the market for 1.75KW of solar panels with no rebate...... and the 1.75KW of panels would be about $4.5K.... $2.11/w + customs and freight would end up (imagine) at $2.5/w Luck favours the well prepared |
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| VK4AYQ Guru Joined: 02/12/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2539 |
Hi Karl I have a supplier that will sell 170 watt panels for $440+ GST here in AU for lots of 50 panels a bit easier than a whole container load with import complications if there are 4 people that want to form a buying group. Looking at the spec sheets I see that there is less than a half an amp output between 150 watt and 200 watt panels with a half an volt variation on mpp voltage, I purchased some 150 watt panels to test and I found no significant difference to the 200 watt panels belonging to my mate, any mono panel using 5" cells have almost the same output you need to go to the 6" cells in the 250 watt panels to get extra useable power out. My panels give 4.3 amps at 29 volts on a hot day 42c+ and 6.1 on a cool 25c, day his where 4.6 amp and 6.3 respectivly. His are rated at 200w and are 2 years old mine are 150 watt and 1 year old, All the best Bob Foolin Around |
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| RossW Guru Joined: 25/02/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 495 |
Last week I received another 20 x 100W monocrystaline modules for my own use. I prefer the 100W as they are a bit easier to handle by yourself, more ruggard, and should you be unlucky enough to break one, less expensive to replace. My landed cost, including GST, was a little over $2.50 AUD per watt ($440+GST for 170W modules = $2.86/W) I have a couple of spares if anyone is desperate, and I will be releasing 8 x 80W BP, only a couple of years old. I'd also be happy to supply these 100W mono units in smaller quantities (eg, 20 off was a reasonable batch, and could break up if people only wanted less) |
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| VK4AYQ Guru Joined: 02/12/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2539 |
Hi Ross Thanks for the info on the panels I would be interested in a couple if you can spare them and postage isnt to excessive from albury to Qld 4311. Love your house concept very good thermal properties. My name is Robert Morgan email: apmirobert@bluemaxx.com.au I have a small airfield 100 kl out of Brisbane All the best Bob Foolin Around |
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| petanque don Senior Member  Joined: 02/08/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 212 |
What is a fair amount of profit will always depend on who you ask. Or is the “profit” just compensation for taking the entrepreneurial risk? However to purchase a $90,000 of panels you will need a shed to store them and the associated gear. The associated gear to set up the business would cost at least $1,000 probably more. (Eg a ladder or two, some electrical gear and maybe a van to carry the gear or at least a trailer.) Even if you own this gear eventually it will need to be replaced If you are going to set up a business do you need insurance? You will also have to pay interest on the money or at least make an allowance for the interest you will lose because you have a shed full of solar stuff term deposits at the moment are about 6% with no risk. If you end up with some sort of business loan you will be paying a lot more than this. Are you entrepreneur material? As someone who has never met you I couldn’t say |
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| VK4AYQ Guru Joined: 02/12/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2539 |
Hi All Making money in a small business / service industry is nearly impossible today, that is why solar companies charge like a wounded bull for parts and services. Stick to doing your own thing and doing the work yourself. Bulk buying is OK providing all parties cooperate. I think I would prefer doing my own thing as the best way to loose friends is to go into joint ventures of any kind. All the best Bob Foolin Around |
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| KarlJ Guru Joined: 19/05/2008 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1178 |
I'm going to get into the service industry keeping the old folks amused looking at windmills! Luck favours the well prepared |
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| petanque don Senior Member Joined: 02/08/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 212 |
You may be onto something. Australia like many developed countries has an aging population. All these baby boomers with good super have to spend their money on something. 
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| VK4AYQ Guru Joined: 02/12/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2539 |
Unless the financial correction we had to have ate it up Paint one of those spirals on the blades to hypnotizs the politicians and donate one to the parliment. Bob Foolin Around |
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| neil0mac Senior Member Joined: 26/12/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 210 |
I'll be happier when 2010 (EDIT - AND 2011) are done and dusted, as I think there is more strife to appear. |
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| VK4AYQ Guru Joined: 02/12/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2539 |
I'll be happier when 2010 (EDIT - AND 2011) are done and dusted, as I think there is more strife to appear. I think you are right on there as the USA situation is very fragile at the moment and only hanging in by the skin of its teeth. We need a bit more self sufficiency to be able to come through this unscathed, or with as few scars as possible. All the best Bob Foolin Around |
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Bolty Regular Member  Joined: 03/04/2008 Location: AustraliaPosts: 81 |
I have just bought 10 of 100 watt Mitubishi panels Model MA100T2 in South Australia. They are exactly the same panels that were fitted as part of my initial Rebate scheme system around 18 months ago! Those have performed very well producing around 1500 KWHrs in 12 months. As they are Amorphous Silicon panels they are larger than others, but that is not a problem for me, as I have plenty of North facing roof area. I am in no way connected with the company that provided them, and I thought other forum members may be interested, as they are quite reasonably priced. I had looked at importing some different panels from China, but these turned out to be a very similar price....after importing, freight, customs, duties etc. I hope that this is appropriate for me to name the company, as I note many other references on this forum to specific companies in relation to solar systems. The company is: The Solar Depot 1b/47 O'Sullivan Beach Road Lonsdale SA 5160 Phone 08 83827555 They have a web site at www.solardepot.com.au but they do not have very much information there! If you wish to email them I think that this should work: mailto:danial@adelaidesolar.com.au or you could try: info@adelaidesolar.com.au I hope that this info may be of help to others! |
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| cooperplace Newbie  Joined: 16/01/2010 Location: Posts: 3 |
Hi, I would be interested in buying some of these. I'm in Adelaide. Peter |
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| VK4AYQ Guru Joined: 02/12/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2539 |
Hi Cooperplace I will find the contacts for you next week and let you know, bare in mind that is in lots of fifty panels they dont sell less than that at wholesale rates. Also can get 80 watt panels in small numbers At $320 including freight if you need smaller amounts lots of 10 only. much more manageable $ wise. All the best Bob Foolin Around |
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